7 Reasons to Try Yoga

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People get into yoga for different reasons, whether as an alternative to cardio, a way to unwind after a long week, or in some instances as a part of their belief system. No matter the reason for the practice, setting aside time in your schedule to quiet your thoughts and focus on your body offers benefits that extend to other parts of your life. Here are some science-backed reasons to break out your yoga mat.

1. IT GIVES YOUR BRAIN A BOOST.

Even a single yoga session can improve your cognition. A 2017 study found that after just 25 minutes of yoga or mindful meditation, subjects performed better on executive function tasks, which include the ability to control habitual thought patterns and reactionary emotional responses. When people do yoga, they’re forced to quiet their minds and focus on the physical. This same mental skill carries over into everyday life: With heightened focus and mental control, people can push away distracting thoughts and devote their attention to the tasks that matter to them.

2. IT HELPS YOU EAT SMARTER.

Yoga may not burn as many calories as traditional aerobic exercise, but it can help you get fit in other ways. According to a study published in 2009, people who practice yoga are more mindful of what they eat and of how what they’re putting into their bodies makes them feel. This deepened awareness leads people to make healthier choices when mealtime rolls around.

3. IT PROMOTES HEART HEALTH.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and adopting a regular yoga practice may help protect against it. According to a 2015 study, doing yoga reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease as much as other forms of exercise such as brisk walking. Researchers found that participants who took yoga classes lowered their blood pressure by five points and their LDL cholesterol levels by 12. A combination of the different elements that make up yoga—such as physical activity, deep breathing, and meditation—may explain the heart-healthy benefits.

4. IT MAY HELP FIGHT DEPRESSION.

There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for depression, but for some patients yoga seems to help. A study released in 2017 shows that subjects who took yoga classes for several weeks reported a reduction in noticeable symptoms at the end of the trial and in the months that followed. More research still needs to be done before doctors start prescribing yoga to their patients, but for now it may work as a supplement to more conventional treatments.

5. IT CAN REDUCE INSOMNIA.

Have trouble falling asleep at night? Practicing yoga before bedtime may help get your sleep schedule back on track. For a study published in 2004, researchers had subjects suffering from chronic insomnia do yoga every night before getting into bed for eight weeks. They found that the study participants enjoyed longer and deeper sleep cycles after picking up a yoga routine. While insomnia is sometimes linked to a person’s genetics, yoga can be effective in alleviating the psychological causes.

6. IT EASES BACK PAIN.

Millions of Americans suffer from back pain. According to a study published in 2011, some time spent on a yoga mat can potentially provide them with relief. Subjects with moderate back pain who started doing yoga on a regular basis reported diminished symptoms and improved back function after 12 weeks. Participants who did yoga also ended up taking less pain medication than those in the control group.

7. IT’S A MAJOR STRESS RELIEVER.

Yoga is all about letting go of your worries and focusing on the now, so it should come as no surprise that the activity relieves stress. But research has shown that yoga does more than give you a relaxing break from daily life: It can actually change your gene expression. According to a paper published in 2017, yoga impedes the expression of genes that cause inflammation, which is linked to stress and certain diseases. So if you ever feel especially relaxed after a yoga session, that feeling may go even deeper than you realize.

Getting started with yoga can require patience and perseverance. Luckily, ﬁnding the right credit card is easier. Discover Card automatically matches the cash back you earn, dollar for dollar, at the end of your ﬁrst year. Visit Discover to learn more.

This Smart Accessory Converts Your Instant Pot Into an Air Fryer

If you can make a recipe in a slow cooker, Dutch oven, or rice cooker, you can likely adapt it for an Instant Pot. Now, this all-in-one cooker can be converted into an air fryer with one handy accessory.

This Instant Pot air fryer lid—currently available on Amazon for $80—adds six new cooking functions to your 6-quart Instant Pot. You can select the air fry setting to get food hot and crispy fast, using as little as 2 tablespoons of oil. Other options include roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and reheat.

Many dishes you would prepare in the oven or on the stovetop can be made in your Instant Pot when you switch out the lids. Chicken wings, French fries, and onion rings are just a few of the possibilities mentioned in the product description. And if you're used to frying being a hot, arduous process, this lid works without consuming a ton of energy or heating up your kitchen.

The lid comes with a multi-level air fry basket, a broiling and dehydrating tray, and a protective pad and storage cover. Check it out on Amazon.

For more clever ways to use your Instant Pot, take a look at these recipes.

At Mental Floss, we only write about the products we love and want to share with our readers, so all products are chosen independently by our editors. Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers and may receive a percentage of any sale made from the links on this page. Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication.

The 5 Best Financial Gifts You Can Give Yourself This Holiday Season

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Between the gifts, parties, and other obligations of the holiday season, it might seem like smarter financial choices will have to wait. But just because you’re spending a little more than usual doesn’t mean you can’t put your financial planning into sharper focus. To help you get started, here are the best financial gifts you can give yourself this holiday season to prepare for a great 2020 and beyond, presented by Discover and Mental Floss. There are small steps you can take immediately to give your finances a boost, like using the Discover it card, which rewards you on every purchase you make with the card. And then there’s long-term planning, like retirement funds, that will help solidify your financial future.

1. Learn how to budget your money.

Plenty of people set spending limits on home expenses, entertainment, clothing, and other expenditures. But sometimes, these amounts need adjusting, especially as life and financial situations change over time. Consider sitting down at the end of the month and examining where all of your money went—from there you can spot unnecessary spending and find ways to fix it.

2. Take advantage of your credit card rewards.

Cash back, mileage, or promotional interest offers—credit cards offer a variety of incentives, but not everyone takes the time to analyze the offers. Don’t let free money pass you by—look into what rewards programs your card offers and take advantage of these financial gifts that are just waiting for you. With the Discover it card, for example, you can earn rewards on every purchase you make. Plus, Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year! It’s unlimited, too, so those weekly coffees you’re trying to fit into your budget can be paid for by money you’ve already earned. Learn more at Discover.com/match.

3. Evaluate your insurance coverage.

Some of us secure home or car insurance and then never think about it again. It’s better to assess your coverage periodically to make sure you’re financially protected for things that are important and consider gap coverage if your policy is lacking. It’s better to spend a little more in policy premiums now than be hit with an unforeseen hardship later. Alternately, you might find your premiums can be lowered owing to a new home improvement project, like new water pipes or an updated roof.

4. Start a retirement plan.

Don’t fall into the trap of putting off retirement savings until you snag a salary increase or reduce expenses. Every year you fail to feed a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, or other nest egg means one less year you’ll accrue in your pursuit of saving for life after work. Remember that your employer may offer matching and tax-deferred options for diverting some of your income. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to learn how to start a retirement fund—the sooner, the better.

5. Save for big purchases.

It can be hard to save money—it involves careful planning, a realistic strategy, and most importantly, cutting back a bit. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives. So if you don’t have one already, set up a savings account this holiday season and start putting some money away every month. It doesn’t even have to be you that does it—ask your bank or employer’s payroll department if they can set up an automated process to save the money for you. So next time you have your eye on a big trip or want to buy a new 4K television, you’ll have a nest egg waiting to pay for it. And big purchases lead to big cashback bonuses, so be sure to take advantage whenever you can.

You can take one step to financial stability with the Discover it® Card—which automatically matches all the cash back you earn, dollar for dollar, at the end of your first year. Learn more at Discover.com/match.